February 26, 2002
14 Adar, 5762
JerusalemThe Jewish Agency Establishes Fund for the Victims of Terror in Israel
The Jewish Agency, in partnership with Jewish communities throughout the World, established a Fund for the Victims of Terror in Israel. The move comes in the wake of continued Palestinian violence. The fund will assist Israeli citizens who are victims of terror, especially new immigrants. It will operate in conjunction with the National Insurance Institution, the Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Immigrant Absorption.
The Fund for Victims of Terror will supply complementary assistance which the Jewish Agency will offer to victims of hostilities who require aid in mobility due their acquired physical disability, adaptation of their apartment to their special needs, purchase of basic products, etc., and who are unable to obtain full assistance for these needs from official Government Institutions. This Jewish Agency assistance will be on a case basis intended to give answer to immediate pressing needs. Application to the Fund will be through the intermediary of the Rehabilitation Division of the National Insurance Institution or the Minitry of Defense Rehabilitation Division.
Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor and the Director General of the National Insurance Institution, Prof. Yochanan Stassmann, stressed that "the establishment of the fund is an example of the Jewish People's solidarity with the People of Israel." They expressed their hopes that the fund will help alleviate the suffering of Israeli victims of hostilities and among them new immigrants.
Sixteen million NIS (e.g. $3.4) have already been contributed to the fund and the Jewish Agency hopes that this amount will be doubled by the end of the year. Fund Policy will be set by an advisory committee comprised of representatives of the Jewish Agency, the contributing Jewish communities, Ministry of Defense and the National Insurance Institution. Individual cases will be deliberated in a committee comprised of representatives of the Jewish Agency, Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Immigrant Absorption. In order to achieve comprehensive data base, the fund will cooperate with all NGOs who assist terror victims.
For further information:
Contact the Office of the Spokesman:
Michael Jankelowitz
Liaison to Foreign Press and Media JAFI
Tel: 972-2-6202780
Fax: 972-2-6202708
Mobile: 972-51-601706